Alfred Zech
Alfred Zech | |
|---|---|
 Zech in 1945 | |
| Born | 12 October 1932 |
| Died | 13 June 2011 (aged 78) |
| Other names | Alfred Czech |
| Known for | child soldier |
| Political party | Polish United Workers' Party |
| Awards |  Iron Cross, 2nd Class |
Alfred Zech, also known as Alfred Czech[1][2] (12 October 1932 – 13 June 2011),[3][4] was a German child soldier who, as one of about 3 million people, received the Iron Cross, 2nd Class at the age of 12 years.
Early life and military career
[edit]Zech was born in Zlattnik, Upper Silesia (present-day Złotniki, Opole Voivodeship, Poland) and was enrolled in the Deutsches Jungvolk, as was mandatory under Nazi rule. In early 1945, Goldenau (as Zlattnik was re-named under the Nazis from 1936-1945) was under attack by advancing elements of the Soviet Red Army. During the attack, Zech saw a number of German soldiers injured by mortar fire, and decided to use his father's farm cart to retrieve them. He made two trips, bringing a dozen wounded to his family home.[5]
According to Zech, a German general appeared at the family farm several days later and asked the parents to send the boy to Berlin, for an audience with Adolf Hitler. His father agreed and Zech joined several other Jungvolk child soldiers who were decorated by Hitler with Iron Crosses (2nd class) for bravery. The recording of the ceremony was widely circulated by Nazi propaganda.[6][1][7] A photograph of Zech being inspected by Hitler was captured by Büro Laux, a German Foreign Ministry photo agency, and later – via Pressens Bild – distributed to the Associated Press.[2]
At the subsequent banquet Zech stated that he volunteered to remain in service, unaware that his hometown was already captured and his father was killed in action, after he was pressed into the Volkssturm.[5][8] Zech was sent to the front in Freudenthal (presently Czech Silesia). There he was wounded in combat, and captured. After his release in 1947, he returned home, learning about his father's death upon arrival.[5]
Later life
[edit]As an adult, Zech joined the Polish United Workers' Party in order to receive leave to emigrate. In 1964, he settled in West Germany where he worked as a laborer.[5]
Personal life
[edit]Zech was married and had ten children.[5]
Popular Culture
[edit]In the German epic historical war drama film Downfall, Peter Kranz is based on Zech, a member of the Hitler Youth during the last stages of the war.
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ a b Field, Jacob F. (2014). D-Day in Numbers: The Facts Behind Operation Overlord. Michael O'Mara Books. pp. 138–139. ISBN 978-1782432395.
- ^ a b Crary, David. "Associated Press releases in-depth review of its coverage of Nazi Germany". Chicago Tribune. Associated Press. Retrieved June 9, 2018.
- ^ "ALFRED Czech". Aachen-gedenkt.de. Retrieved 2023-11-22.
- ^ "Czech, Alfred "Hitler boy"". ww2gravestone.com. Retrieved 2023-11-22.
- ^ a b c d e Paterson, Tony (April 25, 2005). "Downfall: The story of a Nazi boy hero". The Independent. Archived from the original on 2009-11-08. Retrieved May 29, 2018.
- ^ Selby, Scott Andrew (4 September 2012). The Axmann Conspiracy: A Nazi Plan for a Fourth Reich and How the U.S. Army Defeated It. Penguin. ISBN 9781101611388.
- ^ Kater, Michael (2009). Hitler Youth. Harvard University Press. p. 223. ISBN 978-0674039353.
- ^ Groenewoud, André (April 2006). "Was macht eigentlich ... Alfred Czech?". Stern (in German).